Minneapolis police arrested a suspect in a recent sexual assault less than 24 hours after the public saw his photo.

Kenneth Franklin Owens, 43, was arrested early Thursday, Dec. 13, in a house in Minneapolis’ Harrison neighborhood on an outstanding Ramsey County misdemeanor warrant, police said.

Officers of Minneapolis’ Violent Criminal Apprehension Team said information and tips from the public arrived right after pictures were released early Wednesday afternoon.

Just after 3 a.m. Dec. 8, a 33-year-old woman told police that she had been followed off of a bus and sexually assaulted by an unknown male in the Powderhorn neighborhood of South Minneapolis.

The Ramsey County warrant was issued Monday, when Owens didn’t appear for a hearing on a misdemeanor theft charge, according to court records. He stole purses from a Maplewood Kohl’s in September, according to a citation.

Owens’ Minnesota criminal history includes robberies, with no sex offenses on his record.

Mara H. Gottfried contributed to this report. Joseph Lindberg can be reached at 651-228-5513. Follow him at twitter.com/JosephLindberg.

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